alden



l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No M0'de1-.)- l l J. E. ALBEN.

' COMBINED TABLE AND SOP-A.

No. 378,995; A I

INVBNTOR:

J' BY ATTORNEYS.

(NoModel.)

" 3 sheets-sheen y2.

J.. E. ALBEN- -GOMBINBD TABLE AND SOFA- INVBNTOR:

MIJN/VV ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 6, 1888.

(No Model.) 3 sheets- Sheen al J. E. ALBEN'.

COMBINED TABLE AND soEA.

Patented Mar. 6', 1888.

'INVENTOE= j@ WITNESSBS ATTOENEES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. ALDEN, OF LAKE GEORGE, NEW YORK.

COMBINED TABLE ANDfSoFA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,995, dated March 6,1888.

Application filed June 16, 1887. Serial No. 241,525. (No model.)

may be easily and quickly set up to serve either of its intendedpurposes.

The invention consists -in certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts of the table and sofa, all as hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement adj usted as a table. Fig. 2is a vertical scctional side elevation thereof, taken on the line x :10,Fig.1,with the sofa fixtures removed. Fig'. 3 is a transverse sectionalelevation taken on the line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional side viewofthe table in inverted position,with the unfolded legs partly brokenaway andthe sofa fixtures packed away in the body or frame of the table.Fig. 5is a side view of the piece of furniture adjusted as a sofa andpartly broken away. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of Aparts of the tableframeA and top as when ad- 3 5 j usted prior to inverting the table toform the jb b of the frame.

sofa; and Fig. 7 'is a planview of the head portion of the sofa andtheend of the table-frame, with parts broken away.

The vtable-top A is formed of a main or central portion, a, which isfixed to the opposite sides b b of the table-frame B, and two oppositeend parts, c a, which have lugs a2 litting into notches or recesses inthe ends Pins o3, passed through the sides b into the ends b and throughthe lugs ai, form pivots on which the ends a of the table-top may beswung up at right angles with the table-frame to form legs for the sofa,asv hereinaftermore fully described. I prefer to shape the meeting edgesof the parts a a of the table-top on an elliptical curve at theircentral parts, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Metal bars or plates C, which are pivoted on pins c within notches atthe inner faces of the legs a, pass at their free ends into recesses c',which are formed in the sides b of the table-frame. The bars have holesc`i at or near their free ends, and into which outbent studs d at theends of short arms of elbowlevers D D are adaptedto lock to secure the6o where they overlap they are connected loosely 5 by a pin, cl2. Aspring, E, expanding between the end of the table-frame and the ends ofthe levers at d2, normally forces the lever-studs d against the bars Gand causes the studs to automatically lock into the bar-holes c2 astheyo sofa-legs aare fully raised. To lower the legs the levers D willbe pressed inward next the spring to withdraw the studs d from the bars,and the legs may then be folded down to form parts of the table-top.preferably made with a marginal recess or rabbet, into which a thinboard or plate, c3, is fastened by screws or pins to form a cover to thesofa-leg bar Gand make the outer wall of the bar-recess. B are madepreferably of inch stuff, and to the ends b of the frame, which are madeone inch narrower than the frame sides b, blocks F are hinged, thusmaking the ends of the ta- The recesses c' are 75 The table-top A andits frame 8o ble-frame, with the blocks F,of the same width below thetable-top in adjusting the sofa-legs a', as above explained. When thelegs G are unfolded,their outer sides rest against the ends b of thetable-frame, and the opposite legs, forming a pair at each end of thetable, are

connected by two boards, H H, which are so4 reo fixed to the legs as toprovide between said boards a space of about an inch, and in which istted a series of leg-locking devices, next described. A lever, I, ispivoted att' between the leg-boards H H. about at their center, and toopposite ends of the lever are pivotally ecnnected the inner ends of twobent bars, J J, the outer ends of which are adapted to lock into holesj, made in the sides of the tableframe. A spring, K, which is fixed toone of the pairs of table-legs G, acts normally against.

the lever I to project the locking-bars J into the frame-holcsj when thelegs are swung upward from their position within the frame B (shown indotted lines in Fig. of the drawings) to the position to support thetable-top,

verted frame when the piece of furniture is to be adjusted as a sofa, ashereinafter more fully explained.

rlhe opposite sides Z) I) of the table-frame are provided with oppositegrooves or notches l, into which crossbars L L may be slipped at theirends to give support within the tableframe to the folded bottom andhead-piece and the folded back ofthe sofa when the table is in use. Thesofa bottom and head-piece consists of a board or plate, M, onto whichupholstery m is fastened, a board or plate, N, to which upholstery a isattached, and which is hinged at a to one end of the board M, and ahead-piece board 0r plate, O, having upholstery o, and which is hingedat m to the other end of the board M. \Vhen the legs G are folded downwithin the inverted table-frame, which then has support upon thesofa-legs a a, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and when the endblocks, F F, are thrown over outward, the boards M N may be laid uponthe ends b b of the table-frame, and the boards will lie snugly betweenthe frame-sides b b to prevent sidewise displacement of the sofatop fromthe tablefrarne, and allowing a person to recline confidently andcomfortably upon the sofa. Next the hingeejoint a the sofa-bottom boardsare suported at each side of the table-frame by elastic catches P, whichare secured at one end to the frame-sides b, and have upper shoulders orflanges which normally spring outward to support the sofabottom. Thesides b are recessed to allow these catches P to be pressed back iiushwith the faces of the sides when the legs G are to be folded into thetable-fraine, or when the sofa fixtures are to be stowed awayin theframe.

The back ofthe sofa consists of two boards, RS,which areprovided,respectively,with suitable upholstery, r s, and are hinged together y atthe upper edge at i", so as 'to fold over upon each other edgewise andinto nearly rectangular form, as indicated by the full and dotted linesin Fig. 5 of the drawings, and to be of Figs. l, 2, and 3 of thedrawings.

proper size to fit upon the folded part M m of the sofa-bottom withinthe table-frame. The back-boards It S are each provided with a series ofpins, T, which, when the back is unfolded and put in position, enterholes t made in the edge of the side b of the tableframe, and therebysecurely hold the two back sections of the sofa to the frame.

To lock the back to the head-pieces O o of the sofa, I employ a metalcatch-plate, U, made in angular for1n,and provided at one end with a pinorstud, a,whieh enterstheboard R ofthe sofa-back, and at its other endthe catchplate carries a pin or stud, a', which locks into the board Oof the sofa head-piece, and whereby the head-piece will be securely heldin the inclined position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings to makea pillowor head-rest for the person lying on the sofa, and whereby, also, thepins T and catch-plate U together prevent cud wise shifting of theentire sofa-top on its supporting table-frame.

When the piece of furniture is adj usted as a table, the legs G will befastened by the lockbolts J in extended position and the sofa-legs a a'will lie flat upon the table-frame, as in The sofa xtures will be stowedaway in the table frame with the parts N O folded upon the part M andthe folded-back parts R S laid upon the part M, and will be held iuplace by the applied barsupports L, which enter the frameslcts Z, theexpanding pressure or tendency of the sofa bottom and back being ampletovhold the bars firmly in place to support the sofa fixtures outofsight beneath the tabletop.

Then the piece of furniture is to be adjusted as a sofa, the end parts,a a', of the table-top will first be raised and locked in place by thelevers D entering the bars C, as shown in Fig. 6, and the entirestructure will be inverted and supported on the legs a', as shown inFig. 4. The bars L will then be removed and the sofa bottom and backwill be taken out of the frame, whereupon the table-legs G will befolded down into the frame and the sofa bottom and head-piece M N O willbe unfolded and put in place on the frame, to which the unfolded back RS will then be adjusted, and when the back portion R is locked to thesloping head-piece by the catch-plate U the sofa is ready for use, aswill readily be understood.

This piece of furniture can be transformed easily from table to sofa andfrom sofa to table in very little time by persons of ordinary intelligence, and in either adjustment is a strong and serviceablestructure.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a table and sofa, of a frame,tablelegs pivotedthereto and adapted to fold within said frame, a top having hinged endparts which when unfolded form legs to the table-fra1ne wheninverted,and a sofa-top comprising hinged sections adapted forapplication to the inverted table-frame to form IOC a sofa and to bestowed away within the frame, substantially as described, for thepurposes set forth.

2. A combined table and sofa constructed substantially as herein shownand described, and consisting of a frame, B, legs G, pivoted thereto,alever, I, and lock-bars J J, arranged to lock the legs in extendedpositions, a tabletop, A, formed of a part, a, fixed to the frame B, andtwo hinged end parts, cta, which when unfolded form legs to thetable-frame when inverted, bars C, pivoted to the part a and havingholes c2 at their free ends, levers D D, pivoted to the frame and havingstuds d, adapted to the barholes c2, to support the parts a, crossbarsL, fitted loosely to the frame B, and sofa fixtures comprising hingedbottom and head parts, M N O, and a hinged back comprising parts B S,having dowel-pins T, adapted to holes in the table-frame, supports l?,for the sofa-bottom on the frame B, and a locking device, U, holding theparts R O to each other,

and said sofa fixtures adapted for folding and stowage in thetable-frame, all substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

3. In a combined table and sofa, the table made with a frame, B, legs G,hinged to and adapted to fold within the frame,and a top, A, comprisinga part, a, fixed to the frame, and two hinged end parts, a a', whichwhen unfolded form legs on the inverted table-frame for the sofa,substantially as shown and described.

,4. In 'a combined table and sofa, the table made with a frame, B, legsG, hinged to and adapted to fold within the frame, a top, A, formed of afixed part, a, and two hinged end parts, a a', combined with bars C C,pivoted to each end part a', and levers D D, having studs d, adapted tolock the bars to hold the parts a rigid as sofa-legs, substantially asshown and described.

5. In a combined table and sofa, the table made with a frame, B, legs GG, pivoted at each end of the frame, and said legs connected by a crossbar or bars, H, in combination with a lever, I, and lockingbars J J,attached to opposite ends of the lever and adapted to enter holes in thetable-frame, substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.

6. In a combined table and sofa, the tableframe provided with notches Z,combined with a sectional sofa-top fitting within the frame, andremovable cross-bars L, adapted to the the ends b and between the sidesb, and supframe' provided with holes t in the lower edge frame-notchesfor retaining the sofa-top in the frame, substantially as herein setforth.

7. In a combined table and sofa, the table` frame made with sides b andends b, narrower than the sides, in combination with aremovable sofaformed with a bottom which rests on the ends b' and between the sides b,substan- 6o tially as described, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a combined table and sofa, the tableframe made with sides b andends b', narrower than the sides,and provided with hinged blocks F,combined with a removable sofa formed 65 with a bottom which rests onthe ends b and between the sides b when the blocks F are unfolded,substantially as described, for the purposes -set forth.

9. In a combined table and sofa, the table- 7o frame B, formed withsides b,wider than its ends b', and with legs G, adapted to fold withinthe frame, combined with a removable sofa formed with hinged bottomparts, MN, which rest on 7. ports P, fixed to the sides near the jointbes tween the parts M N, substantially as described, for the purposesset forth.

10. In a combined table and sofa, the table- 8o of one side, `and havinghinged legs G, adapted to fold within the frame, in combination with aremovable sofa made with hinged bottom sections, M N, and head-piece O,bottom rests, P, and a hinged back section formed of parts B S, hingedto fold edgewise, and having dowels T, adapted to the frame-holes t, anda latch device holding the parts B O together, substantiall y asdescribed, for the purposes set forth.

11. In a combined table and sofa, the com- 9o bination, with the sectionR of the removable sofa and its head-piece O, of a catch-plate, U, madein angular form and provided with studs u u, locking into the parts B O,substantially as shown and described. 95

l2. In a combined table and sofa, the removable sofa formed ofbottomsections, M N, hinged together, a head-piece, O, hinged tothe part M, aback formed of sections BS, hinged edgewise at i", and provided withdowels T, Ioo and a latch device, U, holding the parts R O together,substantially as shown and described.

JOHN E. ALDEN. TWitnesses:

M. N. NIoHoLs, A. W. FULLER.

